Star Trek writer defends gay character

New York — USS Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu is portrayed as gay in Star Trek Beyond, but George Takei, who originated the role, isn't pleased.

A scene in the upcoming film plainly presents Sulu, played by John Cho, with a male spouse raising an infant daughter. Cho told Australia's Herald Sun that he liked that the approach doesn't "make a big thing" out of it.

But Takei, who came out in 2005, called the decision "unfortunate." The 79-year-old actor told The Hollywood Reporter that he didn't like the character being altered. Takei instead urged the filmmakers to create a new gay character.

Screenplay writer Simon Pegg and director Justin Lin say they intended to pay homage to Takei as an LGBT activist. In a statement Friday, Pegg said he "respectfully (disagreed)" with Takei.